How could she have gotten out without my knowing?

That question nagged Prince Yushir as he sat on his mat waiting impatiently for the visitation to end. His tea cup was empty but his plate was only moderately touched, enough to not appear rude. Something caught his attention and he leaned over toward his indifferent companion.

Dadan has finished his tea, as well he mused with more than a little surprise. When have I ever seen him finish anything at a meal?

“More tea?” Shian offered as she held up the teapot.

Prince Yushir shook himself from the grasp of his curiosity and drew himself to a straight position. “No, thank you. I am curious to know since you will not divulge the recipe, where you fetched this unique ingredient.”

Shian’s smile tensed and she gripped the teapot tighter in both hands. She set down the pot and grasped her hands in her lap. “If I were to tell you the location then you may guess the ingredients.”

Something is amiss here he commented to himself.

“We should be going,” Dadan spoke up as he stood.

Shian’s face fell and she scrambled to her feet. “So soon? And you have not yet finished your meal.”

Yushir hurried to stand and nodded. “I’m afraid so. I must report to my uncle about our new guest.”

“Then surely you might stay a little longer, Dadan,” she pleaded.

“He may add some much-needed advice on handling our guest,” Yushir interjected.

The corners of Shian’s lips twitched downward toward a frown but her upbringing forced her mouth into a smile. She clasped her hands in front of her and bowed her head to them. “Then I thank you for coming to visit me and may you soon return.”

The men inclined their heads in return and left through the main doors, opened to them by a pair of maidservants. Yushir and his companion strolled across the bridge and through the main archway to the road.

Yushir turned to his friend. “I thought the Stewardess of the Palaces was required to have cooking training as well as know how to maintain the grounds and buildings.”

“Her family thought it beneath her,” Dadan replied.

The prince sighed and toyed with his ring. “Such is the benefit of belonging to such an old and distinguished family.” The corners of his friend’s lips twitched upward as he studied him. Yushir laughed. “Of course, I would know of such benefits but I hope they won’t be to the detriment of my guests’ appetites. If you have no other way to scold me then I will take my leave.”

The prince turned and strolled down the road a few steps before he noticed something amiss. He turned and discovered that his companion followed on his heels.

Yushir lifted an eyebrow. “Is there something you need?”

“I am merely following the road,” Dadan replied.

“But your palace is in the other direction,” Yushir reminded him.

“The imperial palace is also in the opposite direction.”

Yushir adjusted his shoulders and cleared his throat. “So it is, but I have a few words to say to our guest before I speak with my uncle.” He turned away and strolled down the path. “If you’ll excuse me-”

“Those words wouldn’t involve the diversion we just attended, would they?”

The prince stiffened and his frantic mind tried to conjure up excuses. He slapped a smile on his face and half-turned to his curious companion. “Of course not. What makes you think that?”

Dadan’s sharp and dark eyes studied him while a smile threatened to dance across his otherwise straight lips. “You have had a rather strange expression on your face since the serving of the tea.”

Yushir shrugged. “Perhaps I was affected by the flavor. It was rather unique. I will have to remember my expression the next time I have some. If you’ll excuse me.”

He bowed and strode off, taking care not to appear to be in too much of a hurry. The prince didn’t stop until he reached the far end of the block where he paused near the portico pillar and glanced over his shoulder. The road was empty.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“That man is frightfully persistent. . .” he murmured to himself before heading off.

A dour task lay before Yushir as he followed the high walls on his right. The prince marched through the archway and into the small garden with its quaint hall. He stomped up the stairs and stopped in the doorway. The strange goddess and her maidservant were seated at the table and both turned to the door at his appearance. Both also had expressions of guilt on their faces.

He pursed his lips and strode over to the table where he stood over the young goddess. “You were very reckless today.”

Lady Roberts bowed her head and nodded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any harm.”

He pursed his lips. “Whether you did or not is not the issue. You purposely escaped my ward and could have been seen a dozen times over by any of the maidservants or even Lady Shian herself. Do you know how unfamiliar you are, even to the residents of heaven?”

Lady Roberts stretched out her arms on either side and looked down at herself. “Do I stand out that much?”

“As greatly as a cat in a hound kennel,” he commented as he paced the floor in front of the table. He paused and wagged a finger at her. “You could have ruined all the goodwill your patience has earned regarding my uncle’s opinion of you and for what? A chance to see a dinner engagement?”

Lady Roberts turned her face away and her voice was choked up. “It won’t happen again.”

“A moment, Your Highness,” Arian spoke up as she climbed to her feet and bowed low to him. “This is none of my mistress’ doing. I was the one to coax her out of the compound with the promise of seeing the party. If anyone is to suffer it should be me.”

Lady Roberts reached up and grasped her maid’s hand. “It’s not your fault. I could have stayed in here but I chose to escape.”

Yushir lifted an eyebrow as he looked between the two women. “How did you come to escape my ward?”

Arian blushed and bowed her head. “I dug beneath it.”

The prince was taken aback by her confession. “You dug beneath my ward?” She nodded. He cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I must admit I did not foresee that scenario. That was a very ingenious plan.” A smile touched Arian’s lips and he frowned. “Ingenious but very foolish.”

Her good humor vanished and she nodded. “Yes, Your Highness and I carry all the blame. My mistress looked so pale this morning that I thought perhaps a trip outside the compound would help her.”

Lady Roberts squeezed her hand. “I won’t let you do that.”

“Then I decree that both of you carry equal blame,” Yushir interrupted them as he gave them both a stern look.

Lady Roberts shut her eyes and nodded, as did her maid. The prince pursed his lips as he stared down at the forlorn woman. She does look paler than even yesterday.

He straightened and sighed. “I have an appointment to meet with my uncle tomorrow to give him an update about you. If you can control your curiosity for that short a time then perhaps I may be able to persuade him to allow you the freedom to come and go as you please.”

“Thank you,” Lady Roberts whispered as she looked up and smiled at him. “And thank you for everything you’ve done for me so far, even if I haven’t been the best magic student.”

I wonder he mused as he thought back to the dinner engagement. He cleared his throat. “See that you do not risk all my efforts going to waste and remain in the compound until I come to visit you. Is that understood?”

Lady Roberts nodded. “Completely. And thank you again.”

“Well, don’t thank me just yet,” he warned her as he toyed with his ring. “My uncle will have the final say in your fate.”